I Peter 2:11-12
Verse 11, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
I. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims.
A. Heb. 11:13 - Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on this earth.
B. This confession allowed them the foundation to do two things.
1. Abstain from fleshly lusts,
2. Live according to the promises of God.
3. This will also work for us.
II. Abstain from fleshly lusts.
A. Abstain means "do not do".
B. Fleshly lusts means following the desires of the flesh into sin.
1. Fleshly lusts does not necessarily mean adultery, stealing, murder, etc.
2. Fleshly lusts could mean following the false religious tradition of our fathers (the generation before us).
III. Which war against the soul.
A. The way Satan uses to destroy the soul (spirit) is through the flesh.
1. The things we put in our minds will determine how our spirit fares before God.
2. You can't mess around with sin and still have a clear mind to serve God with.
3. If we keep our minds on wholesome things, we will be more able to discern between holy things and unholy things.
B. Our lifestyle of yielding to sin can cause our bodies to be broken down with sickness, causing us to be unable to serve God.
1. Using tobacco can cause many sicknesses which can cause premature death or illness.
2. Drinking Alcohol can lead to premature organ damage, and premature death. It also clouds the mind so a person can't reason enough to know how to serve God.
Verse 12, Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
I. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles.
A. The reason our conversation is honest is not to impress the unbelievers or to show them we are "Christians".
1. If we are before God like we ought to be, we will also be before the unbelievers like we ought to be.
2. There are those people who try to impress people by their "holy lives", but after you are around them for a while, it is very easy to tell their worship is false.
II. That, whereas they speak against you as evildoers.
A. Notice that there is no doubt that the Gentiles (unbelievers) will speak against the believers.
B. We would like to believe that unbelievers will approve of our worship, but this just isn't so.
1. It really doesn't make much difference what you do, somebody will disapprove.
2. It is much better to forget what people say about you, and consecrate on serving God instead.
3. If you try to please people, you will always be changing what you are saying, doing, and trying to do.
4. If you are trying to please God, you will fasten your eyes on Him, put your hands on the plough and walk directly toward Him. In so doing, you will plow a straight furrow, which men will see. Thus they will glorify God in the day of visitation.
C. They think it strange that we run not to the same excess of riot as their do!
III. They may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
A. There is no guarantee that unbelievers will turn to Christ because they see our good works.
1. The day of visitation will be either when they are saved, or when they are judged for their wickedness.